so here it is
Few quick highlights of the week:1) Tomas winning and the smile on his face when coming back to the hotel.
2) The chairs in the official hotel
>>picture<<3) Kebab and sunka sir
4) Czech VIP box
5) Monday mens praktice in the praktice rink
Some other notes:I discovered after this Europeans, that me alone or Jade alone is already dangerous, but together we are like a weapon of mass destruction.
Sweden better watch out and Tomas + team can be happy we are on their side.
We were really bad what public transport concerns, because during the whole week we didn't buy a ticket ONCE! and we took the tram nearly every day LOL! it was just 2 stops though, like 3 minutes.
I was so happy to meet certain people again or for the first time!
I love you all, you know who you are!
It's really great to have friends "in the official" to provide you with papers you otherwise would never get! I loved my press conference, quick quotes and Men's protocols papers! Plus I also loved the few "backstage reports" and stuff I here and there got to hear.
I don't think I talk so much about our sandwiches in the report, but it's basically the only thing we ate all week: Kebab and SunkaSir sandwiches. It was really great though, foodwise it was one of the best events (volunteer events not incl) I've been at. Just the fact I could go in zambonibreak to get a good sandwich AND be back in time was absolutely fab. and somewhat luxurious for an FS event.
The report:I traveled to Zagreb from Brno to Budapest, slept…or well was awake in bed there for a few hours and at 6AM in the morning we caught a train to Zagreb, whoo!
So at 12, we arrived in Zagreb, took the tram to our hostel, dropped our stuff, asked the reception where the feck the icerink is and went on our way. We took the tram one stop and then walked. Later we discovered that we could have taken the tram for 2 stops and it would be much closer. Well good to know for next time. The reception guy just didn't advise us this because of the so called "dangerous" trainpassagething. Nonsense, no risk no fun.
(but it wasn't all this dangerous anyway, or at least I am still ALIVE, or I think so…after Tomas won I am not so sure anymore.)
So we come to the rink, no idea where is the entrance, so we ask some security guy whom does not really speak English, and he points to some door so we enter. We walk up 23829038 stairs, walk into some arena and… look down and…nice! Press centre!! LOL!!
We figured that we probably won't see any skating here so we walked out again and found another entrance.
I walk in and somewhere in a corner there is Tomas, stretching. I ask him if he already had practice and he says that yes he just had practice. Darn, just missed it. Oh well. I want to go hang up my banners so I ask some random people but nobody knows what to do with them and where I can hang them. Lots of people go around to ask important people for me and I wait. While waiting (Tomas on that they don't know if I can hang my banners: "but I need them!! I didn't enjoy my practice today because they weren't here.") I start a small conversation with Tomas, ask him if he will be at practice tonight, on which he comments that yes, he will, but he doesn't really feel like it so he asks me if I could go instead of him.
– I would have loved to, and he even wanted to give me his accreditation, but finally he went himself. So I give him my chocolate and some presents from Erica and when he's about to leave some girls come running over. I tell him that they are probably coming for him, on which he asks me if I'm sure and if they are not coming for me. Sure Tomas.
I am writing to much.
So finally I was allowed to hang my banners, but I must say throughout the week I re-hung them like 3 times before they were in the place they were the rest of the week LOL! I was happy Tomas had the most btw. You know, small victory for me.
(Like, should Tomas ever complain about the audience and I was there…I failed…)
So, when they were all hanging in place, we decided to go to the practicerink. DUMDUMDUMMMM! Disaster!
We took 4 trams, including one the wrong way LOL! And then we ended up somewhere middle of nowhere LOL! The icerink was in the middle of this industrial sports park thing. There was a big map at the beginning, we look on it, great, it's all the way on the other side but OK. Off to find building number 40. We walk and walk…get to building number 40, and it's an icerink, and we hear music, the only problem is, there is a fence between us and the icerink! Super!! So we walk to one side, but we see no entrance through the fence, so we walk back and ask the policemen. They tell us to walk all the way around…So we start walking, and walking, and walking, and walking… finally we get back to where the icerink should be, but still, the fence! We look to our left where the fence should end and we see it would be another 3094823948239084239048km walk. We decide not to go there and try to climb over the 2.5m high fence. We walk out of sight from the policemen and…climb over the fence (with spikes and all). Yes, we did it!!
We walk into the practicerink and…great! Empty ice! Seems like this practicegroup as a whole decided not to practice. So we wait, we chat, and after we see the French, the Czechs and some other. Whatever, I don't think anything that is still interesting now happened there. Oh wait, Tomas put a sticker on the boarding. Until this day I don't know what it said, but now that I think of it, it might have been an alpine pro sticker. Then one he also had on one of his sweaters. (Since it wasn't Alpine Pro, but he loves to wear it anyway so he put a sticker on it)
What I do have to say about the practicerink, is they had some kind of warm up area created there…with some boarding around it. It was like…a "skaterzoo". Like they are in some box and you can watch them warm up. Anyway it looked kind of funny to me heh. IIRC Tomas was only in the box on Sunday, in anyway skaters mostly chose to warm up somewhere else.
I think we didn't even stay for last group and went home, but this time we took the skaterbus. No way in hell we were going all the way back by tram etc. and since they were not checking for accreditation anyway, why not. So we sit down in the back and later Tomas joins us to have a little chat. He was terribly funny as usual and we had a good laugh together.
We come back to the rink, go back to our hostel and I relax behind the computer. (where else would I be right)
At some point, an old friend of mine walks in, turns out he would be sleeping in our room for one night while Jade and Monika are not there yet. Nice surprise and I like to talk to him because he's really knowledgeable etc.
I also have to thank him for jinxing Tomas with me into the right direction.
– You know I don't like to say "he will win it" etc. because I am afraid of jinxing Tomas badly, but the other way is of course very fine. I am so terribly superstitious sometimes…
So this is day 1, I wrote a lot but I doubt I will write this much about the other days.
The next day, Jade arrives MWHAHAHAHA! I feel sorry for everyone else because together we are really terrible.
Anyway, we discover also that this lady whom was taking the 4th as of yet not occupied bed was also coming for skating. As usual, the hostel was FILLED with skating fans, hehe.
So we go to the morning practice, I met a Dutch friend of mine yadayada I can't remember much interesting.
In the evening, Jade and me go to the Mens practice in the practicerink. We take the skaterbus, share it with the French and we discover Brian has a green ipod…oh and his color of this year would be white. Less fun than yellow though…and I guess white really didn't work, he should switch back to yellow.
Jade and me have a lot of fun while "watching" mens practice. I don't think we watched that much actually. We were rather laughing, making bad jokes, dancing…well, just being absolutely terrible. I loved it though!!!
You see, day 2 is already much shorter, I just don't remember anything else.
Tuesday, no tak, first competition day…
Banners are now up high, I am content…
Never thought I would be but I was.
banner pictures:
www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=407733&l=a1281&id=503233790www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=407734&l=80ddd&id=503233790www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=407735&l=24ad2&id=503233790Missed half of mens practice because I was talking and doing other things… I don't know…
One funny thing though was that zamboni blew up
There was just a bunch of snow coming out on top, spewing on the ice and afterwards there was like a pile of snow on the ice. It was extremely funny LOL!
picture of the snow on ice after:
www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=407715&l=b87d0&id=503233790Compulsory dance wasn't as bad as I thought it would be, it was actually quite OK though at some point I did proceed watching it while listening to music on my MP3 player LOL! And sometimes the skaters were even able to skate along with my music.
There was more audience than I expected for the compulsory dance, too bad that this expectation wasn't fulfilled for the other events. I suppose the Croatian folks came one day, saw the compulsory dance and then decided that they really don't want to see all skaters skate to the same music all the time?
so they didn't come for the rest of the week? I don't know…
then there was pairs SP, I basically slept through it I think. I think it was during this event that I went somewhere up to sleep and suddenly I get the message I was on television. What the hell? I was on television while I was asleep? NOOO!!! Luckily my friend confirmed to me that I was just walking down the stairs. I was very relieved to hear that heh.
After Pairs, I don't know, I think I went back to the hostel, talked and internetted some more there and spoke to people before going to bed.
Wait! I almost forgot my Japanese apple story, I think it was tuesday that a Japanese friend of mine gave me a Japanese apple to taste. You know I was really curious after the interview with Tomas, but I can honestly say that he is right! I never ate such a nice apple before and it looked so tasty too! Especially compared to the apples here in Czech, because they are...well of not so great quality than I am used to sorry...and compared to this apple it is absolutely nothing LOL!
>>picture of my apple<<I also have to say that I love Tomas's Japanese fans, they don't speak that much English or anything, but they tried to communicate with me and they were just absolutely adorable. After Zagreb I think I understood more what Tomas was trying to say in the press about them and he also explained it a bit more to me on the bus.
And Jade had her first Kebab today, thanks to me because I got it for her.
Yeah sometimes I am nice too.
Wednesday….day of huuuuuge stress!! I suppose this story day will be longer again.
Anyhow, we started off in the morning with mens practice in the practicerink. Before we went there though, I went into the main icerink to reserve our seats for the Mens short program. After all, we didn't want to sit somewhere high up so heh, I took a few of my papers and wrote there "reserved CZE"
(when the Men SP started though we found ourselves sitting IN the French supporter group....nice...) I also hung up a few more Czech flags from Monika. The bannersection completely Czech and Tomasofied. I am content.
This day we also created our Czech VIP box in the practicerink.
>>see here<< Well it sort of already existed on Monday as me and Jade had our fun there, but today we "completed it" ; as in we hung our Czech flags up into one of the hockeybenchboxthings. Extremely fun, or well to us anyway. (I told you we are terrible!!) We were cheering a lot, other people there too for several skaters and well it was just a happy and crazy bunch. I am sure the skaters appreciated it, some positive energy before going into the SP. I terribly lot enjoyed Stephane skating his SP at this practice, or perhaps at another practice in the practicerink, but I think the footwork here is just amazing and I really enjoyed seeing it so up close from right behind the barrier.
Special mention too for Kristoffer because I like his Amelie SP. Nice music + voidy skater = success!! I still do NOT understand the low components in the SP, that was BEYOND ridicolous.
after the practice a lot of fans took the skaterbus, it was kind of stupid actually because the bus was really full. Skaters were even standing and I thought some people could stand up for them. I know they are young people and so on but they need well rested legs and blah, I don't think they should stand for 30mins. There were even people whom wanted to take photos which I think is really unacceptable. Jade told some Italian people in Italian that they really shouldn't bother them etc. which earned her some positive comments afterwards by an Italian judge.
I just don't think skaters should be bothered the day of their SP or the day of their LP. They need to train and be left in peace so they can concentrate and do their excellent best. I mean that is what we want right? See them do their excellent best, more than wanting a simple autograph or picture. At least that is how I think about it, but I guess there are a lot of people whom do not agree with me about this. It's kind of sad. I know I am kind of spoiled and see the skaters all the time etc. and in general I simply don't care about an autograph or a picture anymore (because if I would ask them all the time, they would go crazy of me, and I rather want them to see me as a nice, somewhat normal (or well as far as possible with me) person), but still, I think everyone should consider this…
Well rant over, time to talk about Mens short. I ABSOLUTELY DID NOT enjoy this. It's really a pity because I REALLY like the men skating (at least I saw a lot of practice and could enjoy all of them there) but eigh, I was TOO nervous and nearly passed out during the last zamboni break. I went to the bathroom, wanted to go to my seat but basically couldn't! I am happy there was nothing in my stomach (I basically didn't eat after breakfast) because otherwise probably the hallway wouldn't have stayed so clean…So I was fighting with myself during the whole SP. And oh yeah, before the SP, my Japanese friend gave me a bag full of the all so famous hearts, and the message was to "please throw them in the K&C". I thought about how and when and decided when he would skate well, I would just empty the bag over his head. Right after this thought of course I had to nearly kill myself for perhaps maybe jinxing him and I very much had to fight my superstitious self.
Before the last group I moved to the stairs, because I really couldn't use anyone talking to me, touching me or coming within my aura. (just so you know for the future, in these moments it's really not smart to come ANYWHERE near me LOL!) I even pissed off someone mayorly whom did come within my aura. Heh, oops.
Luckily for me, Tomas skated well, and so I only enjoyed the last 7 minutes (Tomas ftwrk+K&C) of the whole Mens Short Program. It was a surprise for me though that I even enjoyed his footwork, I mean usually I am very nervous when he performs it because well…this is Tomas we are talking about, but this time, I was really happy to see it. I basically screamed my lungs out during the program…for myself, because it helps me get rid of the nerves, but mainly for Tomas, because I know it somehow helps him. And of course if I can help him in any way, I do it, so I scream and wave my flag, etc.
He finishes, I'm happy, walk to K&C, become famous on Eurosport and attack Tomas with toys.
Tomas gets his marks, I scream some more, what the hell, it happened again, Tomas is in the first place! Must say that last year was happier though because this time it was more expected. But what the hell, whee! 5PM, we go to the supermarket, I buy some multivitamin juice and when I get back to the arena I slowly eat my lunch and dinner at the same time. You know, my stomach was still recovering.
Pairs LP I could have skipped, it was terribly boring. Went home quickly after, didn't even stay for the medal ceremony. It was an exhausting day, at least for me.
Thursday. Somehow not such a nervous day.
Practice in the morning. Uhm, I don't know what to report about this.
Original Dance was fun. I love the theme of this year and I loved the comments of the British people behind us.
Just all the fun polka and everything, whee! You gotta enjoy it! And I was happy I was enjoying it because it made me think less about the Mens LP. During the OD though, Jade had to go to the hostel to get some medicine, because she completely had lost her voice and had trouble to speak let alone scream. And of course her voice had to be restored for the Men LP, so she left to get her medicine and then quickly she rushed back.
Then it was time for Men LP, I again got a whole bag full of hearts and we enjoyed photographing ourselves with them and I also discovered they are very useful for sleepin; yes I took a nap somewhere during the Men LP zamboni this time. (and a friend of mine was so nice to take pictures bleh) I wasn't that nervous at all!
good for me, and good that I could enjoy Mens LP, sort of.
So fast forward to Tomas, sorry, he skates, I scream and wave, he finishes I am happy. I try to throw the hearts in the K&C again but this time I have to fight the security guy though. However I won. Tomas gets great marks and now…well I couldn't think about anything else anymore. I didn't see the rest of the group at all! I mean I was watching but I didn't register anything.at.all.!! It's sort of a pity because for example Stephane and Sergei skated quite nicely but I just MISSED it! Unbelievable perhaps for some, but it's true and I feel somewhat sorry for myself LOL! I was only thinking about Tomas and perhaps gold, maybe not, then fighting my superstitious self, telling myself to NOT think about it and just clap and cheer and try to watch.
While Brian is skating, I have several heart attacks. He is the last one that could overtake Tomas and he makes mistakes. He finishes and I know it in my heart, Tomas won Europeans. However I wait till the scores until I COMPLETELY freak out. Somehow I just have to make a fool out of myself in these moments. I just couldn't help but screaming, crying and being terribly happy. It's something I never EVER expected at the start of this event. (sorry Tome, I love you xoxoxox) Someone even caught my on film freaking out… I watched it after on her camera, I must admit that somewhere it was kind of cute.
I hug all the people, we gather at the boarding…we were sort of squeezed together and there was hardly place to wave our flags, but whatever. My japanese friend photographs us cheering and we watch the whole ceremony with awe. Such happiness in my whole body, well one does not feel that very often…*sigh* - I still, even though I saw all of this with my own eyes, cannot believe Tomas won it though. Must admit that while I am writing this I have again an eternal smile on my face and some tears in my eyes heh.
During the whole thing I also have flashbacks of how everything was in the beginning, difficult times and just everything that happened so far since we know each other LOL! I don't know, it was very emotional, I was very much IN A VOID that's for sure.
Then, in the victory round, Tomas stops RIGHT in front of us, throws the flowers but he lets go too early or so and so they didn't really reach us but it landed about 2m away from us. I felt a bit wuzrobbed when some other lady caught the flowers and I looked jealously at her the rest of the week LOL! Next time aim better Tomas.
We go out, almost our mood gets screwed by the sekurityguy shooing us out, but he didn't succeed (well to shoo us out yes, but to screw our mood no). As I walk to the hotel I look up to the stars and thank the skategods about a 29480394392793824 times. In the hotel I think we discover for the first time: THE CHAIRS!!! They are more comfortable than anything in the world. Anyway, we wait and wait and wait and wait till the champions come in.
Before they come though I see Tommy's coaching team coming in, so I go to them to give them all a big hug!!! Telling them congratulations and thank you etc. Mr. Sinicyn then thanks me for all my work whee! Kevin also came after a while and had a little chat with Mireille, I mostly just listened but I did get a "hi" lol.
While I was occupied listening Dutch, Jade hears Italian! So she goes over, talks a littlebit and in the end it turns out she is talking to the mother of Massimo Scali. Luckily she didn't say something really bad about him. LOL!
Since this conversation, Jade is famous in the Italian team, and they all greet her, and even me because I am a friend of Jade. LOL!
OK, so...After some more waiting, Stephane comes in together with Tomas, so everyone Jumps on Stephane leaving the way free for Tomas.
I felt kind of sorry for Stephane for having to deal with ALL those people.
I stand in the middle of the hall, he sees me, smiles and walks over. On the way he gets stopped by a fan to take a picture and right before posing with her, he looks sideways to me and throws me a smile I will NEVER forget EVER! Such happiness in his eyes, his smile, his whole body language, simply…the best! Then he finishes with his fanduties and I just give him a big hug
>>even have a picture of it heeeh<< and nearly don't let him go. (at least the Italians Jade was standing thought I would never LOL) Of course in this highly emotional moment Tomas has to make a joke PML! "I saw you on TV more than me!" and I don't know what else. Then he goes up to his room, the lobby empties and we go home.
I think somewhere here we started dancing to Billy Jean, me and Jade. I don't know, but anyway there were some occasions where we turned on our mp3 player on at the same time, both on billy jean, to dance and sing to it simultaneously PML!
Anyway, I was back at 2, immediately changed the picture of Tomas's website from a silver medal one to a gold medal one and I read all the messages in the guestbook etc.
I go to bed at 4 but basically 1.5hours later I wake up with my heart racing I don't know how fast, thinking "OMG! TOMAS WON EUROPEANS!"
I decide to just get up, physically I feel destroyed and terrible, but mentally I was in 7th heaven or perhaps even better. I hang around the internet WAY too long until I get my ass over to the icerink.
I talk to some people outside, also meet with people whom had been so crazy to see the ladies SP from the start and were...near death
I watched the last 2 groups of ladiezz...I don't know what else I should say about this.
LOL message too big so next bit in the next msg
